Walter and the Crossing (the Lost Train)

Walter has been gone from his old hometown
for longer than he can remember
which isn't saying a lot, I guess;
he can't recall the first of November

and it's been longer than that
you and I know
and the way it's going he may be gone
until after the winter snow

The Trancharian lord came to some tracks
traveling as far east as he could see
turning, he found the tracks traveled west
as far as he knew, to eternity

he was at a crossing on a not busy road
when lights started flashing and arms came down
not a car was in sight, not a bird made a noise
and of trains there were none to be found

in either direction nothing locomotive appeared
east was horizon and west was the sky
Walter thought, "oh dear the poor train is lost"
then for a moment, a fleeting moment, realized, "so am I."

He tried to piece together the cars that connected
his engine to his caboose
but when he got to the car full of coal
the connection just seemed to come loose

and just when a tear came into his thought
a man on a handcar pushed by
not a group of cars or four big engines
just a simple handcar, slow, but wanting to fly

The man looked at Walter and Walter stared back
a glint of recognition in his eye
"that man looks like me," Walter thought (to himself)
and he waved as the man pumped by

Walter blanked out but just for a bit
and got a wry look on his mouth
then he picked up his feet and headed forth
on that road that led north or south